Coast Guard helicopter crashes in Alaska, injuring four

A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter crashed during a training flight near Sitka, Alaska, on Monday, June 22, injuring all four crew members aboard. The MH-60 Jayhawk, based at Coast Guard Air Station Sitka, went down near Harbor Mountain.

The crash was reported shortly after 10 a.m. local time. First responders from Sitka Fire and Rescue arrived at the scene around 11 a.m. All four crew members were transported to Mt. Edgecumbe Medical Center for treatment. Officials have not released details on the severity of their injuries, but confirmed no fatalities were reported as of Monday.

The Coast Guard stated that the safety and rescue of the crew was its absolute, immediate priority. The cause of the crash is not yet known, and a formal investigation has been launched to determine the circumstances. The helicopter was on a routine training mission at the time of the incident, according to a Coast Guard petty officer.

Sitka is located approximately 95 miles southwest of Juneau in southeastern Alaska. Video from the area depicted poor weather conditions at the time of the crash, though it is unclear if weather was a factor.

The incident follows a series of recent military and civilian...